Loose-leaf binder



June 13, 1950 2,511,153

C. E. EMMER LOOSE-LEAF BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1944 60 EWW C/mnez. 6 0 WA 120 fTwme June 13, 1950 c. E. EMMER 2,511,153

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Nov. 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [rm "En far C/m EL5s flow/92a 5mm Patented June 13, 1950 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Charles EdwardEmmer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to General Binding Corporation, Chicago,111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 1, 1944, Serial No.561,355

13 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of binding devices for the binding ofperforated loose-leaves, and more particularly to the type of bindingsknown in the trade as plastic bindings.

Binding devices of this plastic type have been used which include acomb-like member made of some plastic material such as sheet celluloidor other resilient plastic having a back extending along the back of thebook and fingers curled into rings and extending around through theholes or perforations in the edge of covers and leaves and holding themtogether. In certain forms of this general type of binding, the ends ofthe fingers which form the rings curl around on the outside of the backjoining the teeth in overlapped portions of the teeth near the back sothat the back lies with the bound pages within the rings formed by theteeth. In another form, the teeth curl around the outside of the back sothat the back lies inside of the rings. Plastic bindings of this generaltype described above have been used in recent years for bindingcatalogs, sales presentation pieces, magazines and other forms of books,in which the sheets are held more or less permanently by the plasticfingers. In case it is desired to remove any of the sheets or leaves andreinsert others, a machine has usually been employed for expanding oropening the teeth.

It is desirable to have a binding of the plastic type for the binding orretention of loose-leaves and so constructed that the user of the boundloose-leaves can easily expand the bindin and remove sheets and reinsertother sheets.

One such type of arrangement for facilitating the expansion of thebinder without the use of expensive machinery is described and claimedin my Patent No. 2,234,045 issued March 4, 1941 and includes a tool oropener for the binding element comprising a round-edge blade which isinserted within the teeth tocause the rings to be opened. Such anopening arrangement, of course, requires a tool separate from theplastic binder, and it is, therefore, a general object of my inventionto provide an improved plastic binder which may be expanded by the userof the binder in a simple manner without the use of extra tools whichmust be inserted into the Further objects and advantages of my inventionwill become apparent from the following description referring to theaccompanying drawings, and the features of novelty which characterize myinvention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexedto and forming a part of this specification.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved plastic binderconstruction with perforated loose-leaves being held in the binder;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken between two of the ring portions ofthe binder of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view of the ring portion of Figure 2 when in its expandedposition for the insertion or removal of perforated loose-leaves fromthe binder;

Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of thestructure of Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section illustrating the wedge ofFigure 4;

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views illustrating further modificationsof my invention;

Figure 8 is a view of a blank of plastic material used in forming theconstruction of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view illustrating a fur ther modification of myinvention, and

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a blank before it is curved to producethe structure of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated a binder including abackbone!!! having a normal curved cross-section and being formed of anysuitable resilient plastic material which is commonly used for this typeof binding such as cellulose acetate or any other suitable syntheticresin. The backbone l 0 extends in a longitudinal direction for asuitable distance depending upon the size of the perforated loose-leavesI! which it is desired to bind in the binder. In order to provide ringarrangements which pass through perforations l2 in the loose-leaves H, aplurality of fingers l3 and I4 extend from opposite sides of thebackbone I!) in any suitable manner, such as being integral therewith.It is to be understood that the fingers I 3 and M are suitably spacedand have the desired shape such as being approximately semi-cylindricaland cooperate with each other to provide ring portions. When the fingersl3 and M are in their normal positions, it will be noted that adjacentends l5 and I6, respectively, are contiguous and are cut on an inclineas is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, so that they will provide arelatively tight mating surface in order that the loose-leaves ll may 3be paged like an open book without being disengaged from the binding.

In order to provide a convenient arrangement for expanding the fingersI3 and I4 sufficiently to space the ends I5 and I 6 so that pages may beremoved or inserted, I provide an expandible wedge constructionincluding members I! and I8. This Wedge construction may take anysuitable shape and in the construction illustrated in the drawings, thewedges I! and I8 have surfaces I9 and which are suitably attached orcemented to the inner surface of the backbone. In order to facilitatethe flexure of the backbone 1.0 when the wedge portions are movedrelative .to each other, it will be noted that portions of the wedgebetween adjacent edges of the surfaces I9 and 20 are spaced from thebackbone so that upon movement of the wedge portions I! and 18, thewedges and fingers I3 and I4 may rotate about a pivotal axis which isgenerally along the longitudinal axis of the backbone I0.

In order to provide a convenient arrangement for moving the wedgeportions I! and I8 relative to each other so as to expand the plasticbinder, I provide inadjacentedges'fl and 22 of the wedge portions I1 and18, respectively, complementary slots '23 and 24. "These slots may haveany suitable shape and in the construction illustrated in the drawings,they are semi-elliptical and have their longitudinal axes generally inline with the-edges 2| and '22 when the binder is in its normalposition, and their lateral axes perpendicular to those surfaces 2| and22. A bar is provided which has a cross-section generally the same asthat of the'twoslots 23 and 24 as will 'be seen in Figure '2. Since thebar and slots are of a non-circular cross-section and with the longer orlongitudinal axes in 'line with the mating surfaces 21 and 22 when thebar is rotated approximately ninety degrees 'to that position as isillustrated in'Figure'3,'the longitudinal axis of the bar 25'willbecomesubstantially coincident with the "lateral axes of the mating slots 23and '24, and since the backbone I0 is relatively flexible, thewedgeportions "I1 and 18 will rotate relative to each other, around thebottom axis generally or approximately coincident with the longitudinalaxis of 'the backbone Ill. This will in turn 'cause the fingers I3 andI4 to ex pand or spread thus leaving the edges I5 and I6 with a gap'sufliciently wide for the insertion orremoval of loose-leaf pages.

Inorder to facilitate the rotation of the'bar 25 it will 'be seen thatthe'bar is provided with hand grips v25 at opposite ends. Although Ihave shown the 'complementaryslots and the bar for actuating the wedges'as having a substantially elliptical shape, it will be understood thatany other suitable non-circular shape may be provided so thatrotation'ofthebar a-slight amount will cause relative movement between the fingers.It will also be understood that :by varying the relative Width of thebarand complementary grooves in a longitudinal and lateral direction,the amount of spread of the ends I5 .and I6 -of the fingers may bevaried.

'In Figures 4 and 5, 'I have illustrated a construction in whichmovement of the wedge operating member longitudinally instead of byrotation will cause spreading of the wedges. The binder constructionillustrated in Figures 4 and 5 includes a backbone '21 having fingers 28and 29 projecting from opposite sides thereof similar to theconstruction illustrated in Figures 1 to '3 except that :it "will benoted that the mating 4 ends 3!} and 3| of the fingers 28 and 29 are cuton a longer plane than the surfaces of the edges I5 and I6 so as toinsure suii'icient overlap so that the pages will not be removed fromthe binding merely upon paging them. In order to provide an arrangementfor expanding the plastic binder, an expandible Wedge is providedincluding relatively movable portions 32 and 33 which have surfaces 34and 35 suitably attached to the backbone in. the same general manner asis illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Complementary edges '36 and 31 of thewedge portions 33 and 34, respectively, are provided with complementaryslots 38 and 39. The slots 38 and 39, however, are so proportioned thataxial movement of a wedge operating member 40 rather than rotationalmovement will cause the wedges to expand. Thus the wedge operatingmember 40 has an enlarged portion 4I within an enlarged portion 42 ofthe complementary slots 38 and 35. The slot portion 42 in turncommunicates with relatively smaller complementary slots 43. Thus thecomplementary lots are provided of two different sizes as the slotprogresses in a longitudinal direction and upon movement of the bar tothe left as is illustrated in Figure 5, the oamming or inclined surface44 will be forced into the relatively small slots 43 thus causing anexpansion or relative movement of the wedge portions 33 and 34. For theconvenience of the operator, a grip 45 is provided on the outer end ofthe rod 40 and it will be understood that if desired a similar rodmember placed in similar slots may be provided at the opposite end ofthe binder and such operating members could be connected together. Theinner end of the rod 40 is provided with a shoulder 43 which willprevent the operator from pullin the rod entirely out of the binderwhile expanding it.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 6, I have shown a binder whichis made of two portions so as to facilitate its manufacture through adie operation. Thus, the binder includes portions 47 and 48 made ofsuitable plastic material with ends 49 and 50, respectively, suitablyattached together. In order to insure a relatively tight joint, it willbe noted that the adjacent edges 49 and 50 are made approximately halfthe thickness of the remainder of the backbone so as to insure anoverlap joint. The backbone portions 4'! and 48 are provided withfingers BI and '52 which extend from opposite sides thereof to provide aplurality of spaced expandible ring portions of the same general type asthat shown in Figure 1.

In Figure '7, I have illustrated a plastic binder construction includinga backbone portion 53 with fingers 5d and 55 extending from oppositesides thereof to provide a plurality of spaced split ring portions ofthe same general type as that illustrated in Figure 1. In order tosupport wedge portions 56 and which are similar to the Wedge portions 32and 33 of Figure 4, I provide a plurality of fingers 58 and 59 whichalso project from opposite edges of the'backbone 53. Referring to Figure8, I have illustrated a blank from which the plastic binder is stampedand it will be noted that the blank includes a backbone portion 53, theoutwardly extending fingers 54 and 55 and the fingers 58 and 59 Whichproject between adjacent fingers 54 and 55. It will be noted that thefingers 58 and 59 are relatively shorter than the fingers 54 and 55, butthey are sufiiciently long so that when bent inwardly they overlap atthe ends around the upper surface of the wedge portions 56 and 51. Itwill therefore be seen that with the construction illustrated in Figures7 and 8, an efficient arrangement is provided for supporting the wedgeportions as the material is used between the outwardly extending fingerswhich form the ring portions which material might otherwise be wastedduring the blanking operation. It will be understood that after theblank is formed with the desired outwardly extending fingers as isillustrated in Figure 8, it may be suitably curved so that it will takethe shape as is illustrated in Figure 7.

In Figure 9, I have illustrated another form of my invention including amember or backbone 60 having fingers GI and 62 extending from oppositesides thereof so as to produce a plurality of spaced ring portions ofthe same type described above in connection with the other figures. Inorder to provide an arrangement for expanding the fingers, extensions 63and 64 are provided which are integral with the backbone and a slot 65is placed between the extensionsso that they provide in efiect a pair ofwedge members. It will be noted that the slot 65 terminates a suitabledistance from the outer edge of the backbone so that the entirestructure is formed of integral extensions 63 and 64 and integralfingers 6| and 62. Also, since the slot does not extend clear throughthe backbone upon relative movement of the extensions or wedge portions63 and 64, the member will be flexed around the general longitudinalaxis of the backbone. The members 63 and 64 may be flexed in anysuitable manner such as by providing an operating member within thecomplementary slots 66 and 6'! of the extensions 63 and 64,respectively.

The construction of Figure 9 may be formed in any suitable manner, butdue to the integral connections between the extensions 63 and 64, theconstruction lends itself to a simple extrusion process. Thus, a blankas is illustrated in Figure 10 may be provided which has the integralextensions 53 and 54. It will be understood that the fingers may beprovided after the extrusion process by running the blank through a diefor cutting the fingers. The construction may then be given the curvedshape by rolling it in a suitable manner.

Although I have shown and described particular embodiments of myinvention, I do not desire to be limited to the particular embodimentsdescribed, and I intend the appended claims to cover all modificationswhich do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including a backboneresiliently deformable alon the length thereof, a plurality of resilientcurved fingers projecting from opposite sides of said backbone toprovide a plurality of split ring portions for binding the leaves, anexpansible wedge having relatively movable portions with oppositelyarranged slots secured to said backbone, and a wedge expanding membermovably mounted in said slots for moving said wedge portions to spreadthe adjacent ends of said fingers so that papers may be convenientlyinserted or removed from said plastic binder.

2. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including a backboneresiliently deformable along the length thereof, means including aplurality of resilient and spaced fingers integral with and extendingfrom said backbone to provide a plurality of split ring portions, awedge member having relatively movable portions with adjacent surfaces,means securing said wedge member to said backbone, and means cooperablewith said adjacent surfaces of said wedge portion for moving said wedgeportion and thereby spreading said ring portions so that paper may beconveniently inserted or removed from said plastic binder.

3. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including a backboneresiliently deformable along the length thereof, means including aplurality of resilient and spaced fingers integral with and extendingfrom said backbone to provide a plurality of split ring portions, awedge member having relatively movable portions with oppositely arrangedslots in adjacent surfaces, means securing said wedge member to saidbackbone, and a wedge operating member movable in said slots for movingsaid wedge portions and thereby spreading said ring portions so thatpaper may be conveniently inserted or removed from said plastic binder.

4. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including a backboneresiliently deformable along the length thereof, means including aplurality of resilient and spaced fingers integral with and extendingfrom said backbone to provide a plurality of split ring portions, awedge member having relatively movable portions extending along saidbackbone on opposite sides of the longitudinal center thereof withsubstantially semi-elliptical oppositely arranged slots in adjacentsurfaces, means securing said movable portions of said wedge member tosaid backbone, and a wedge operating bar having an ellipticalcross-section substantially similar to that of said slots and normallypositioned therein so that the adjacent surfaces of said ring portionsare substantially contiguous, said wedge operating bar being rotatablesubstantially ninety degrees for rotating said movable portions of saidwedge member generally about the longitudinal axis of said backbone forspreading said ring portions so that papers may be conveniently insertedor removed from said plastic binder.

5. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including a backbonemade of resilient plastic material deformable along the length thereof,a plurality of resilient normally substantially semicylindrical fingersintegral with and extendin from opposite sides of said backbone toprovide a plurality of split ring portions for binding the leaves, awedge member secured to and extending along said backbone and havingrelatively movable portions with adjacent surfaces which are normallyrelatively close together when said split ring portions are relativelyclose together, said surfaces having oppositely arranged slots with anon-circular shape and with the longitudinal axes thereof in substantialalignment with the surfaces when they are relatively close together, anda bar having a cross-section approximately the same as that of saidslots when said surfaces are relatively close together, said bar beingrotatable so that its longitudinal axis is substantially in alignmentwith the lateral axes of said slots for rotating said wedge portiongenerally about the longitudinal axis of said backbone for spreadingsaid ring portions so that paper may be conveniently inserted or removedfrom said plastic binder.

6. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including a backboneresiliently deformable along the length thereof, a plurality ofresilient curved fingers projecting from opposite sides of said backboneto provide paired segments for forming splitring portions :for bindingthe leaves, opposed fingers having normally contiguous ends overlappingon "an inclineso as to minimize the possibility of the loose-leavesbecoming disengaged during use, an ,expansible wedge secured to saidbackbone, and means mounted on and engageable with said Wedge memberintermediate the ends thereof for expanding said Wedge upon relativemovement of said means with respect to'said wedge .50 as to spread theadjacent ends of said fingers so :that papers may be convenientlyinserted or removed from said plastic binder.

7. A-plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves includingna backboneresiliently deformable along the length thereof, means'including aplurality of resilient and spaced fingers integral with and extendingfrom said backbone to provide a plurality of split ring portions, awedge member having relatively movable'portions with oppositely arrangedslots in adjacent surfaces, means securing said wedge member to saidbackbone, and a wedge operating member axially movable in said slots formoving said wedge portions and thereby spreading said ring portions sothat paper may be conveniently inserted or removed from said plasticbinder.

8. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including a backboneresiliently deformable along the length thereof, means including aplurality of resilient and spaced fingers projecting from said backboneto provide a plurality of split ring portions, a wedge member havingrelatively movable portions with oppositely arranged axially extendingslots in adjacent surfaces, said slots having different dimensions indifferent axia'l parts of said wedge member, means securing said wedgemember to said backbone, and a wedge operating member in said slots,said wedge operating member having portions of different diameters sothat axial movement of said wedge operating member will force said wedgemember apartand thereby spread said ring portions so that paper may beconveniently inserted or removed from said plastic binder.

,9. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including an axiallyextending backbone portion resiliently deformable along the lengththereof and a plurality of resilient curved fingers projecting fromopposite sides of said backbone portion with normally conti uous edgesto provide a plurality of split ring portions for binding the leaves, anexpandible wedge, means integral with said backbone portion securingsaid wedge thereto, and a camming member engageable with said wedgeintermediate the ends thereof :and secured thereto, to expand said wedgemember upon relative movement of said camming member with respect tosaid Wedge member to spread the adjacent ends of said fingers so thatpapers may be conveniently inserted or removed from said plastic binder.

10. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including an axiallyextending backbone portion resiliently deformable along the lengththereof and a plurality of resilient curved fingers projecting fromopposite sides of saidbackbone portion with normally contiguous edges toprovide a plurality of split ring portions for binding the leaves, anexpansible wedge, means including auxiliary fingers extending fromopposite sides of said backbone portion securing said wedge thereto,said wedge member being relatively expandible so as to spread theadjacent ends of said fingers so thatpapers may be conveniently insertedor removed from said plastic binder.

11. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including an axiallyextending backbone portion resiliently deformable along the lengththereof and a plurality of resilient fingers projecting from oppositesides of said backbone portion with normally contiguous edges to providea plurality of split ring portions for binding the leaves, anexpandiblewedge, means including auxiliary fingers extending from opposite sidesof said backbone portion between said curved fingers securing said wedgemember to said backbone portion, said wedge member being relativelyexpandible so as to spread the adjacent ends of said fingers so thatpapers may be conveniently inserted or removed from said plastic binder.

12. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including abackboneresiliently deformable along the length thereof, formed of two axiallyextending portions, means for attaching adjacent edges of said portionstogether, opposite edges of said :portions having a plurality ofprojecting resilient curved fingers with normally mating edges toprovide a plurality of split ring portions for binding the leaves, and apivotally movable non-circular member mounted on said backbone andhaving connection with said backbone on opposite sides of thelongitudinal center thereof for expanding said backbone and fingers andspreading the mating ends of said fingers upon relative movement of saidmember with respect to said backbone so that papers may be convenientlyinserted'or removed from said plastic binder.

13. A plastic binder for perforated loose-leaves including a memberformed of relatively resilient plastic material having a backboneportion resiliently deformable along the length thereof with apluralityof :resilient curved fingers projecting from opposite sides of saidbackbone portion to provide a plurality of split ring portionsforbinding the leaves and means extending from said backbone portion andhaving a longitudinal slot :to provide a pair of relatively movableportions so that relative movement thereof will cause movement of saidfingers so that papers may be conveniently inserted or removed from saidplastic binder and a camming member having a non-circular camming face,engageable with said slot, to expand said fingers about the axis ofsaid backbone portion, upon relative movement thereof with respect tosaid slot.

CHARLES EDWARD EMMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 720,548 Whitlock Feb. 10, 1903790,779 Brown May 23, 1.905 2,234,045 Emmer Mar. 4, 1941 2,246,702Stewart June 24, 1941 2,273,746 White Feb. 17, 1942 2,354,094 ThomasJuly 18, 1944 2,363,848 Emmer Nov. 28, 1944 2,371,474 Seelman Mar. 13,1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,791 Great Britain 1910 15,810GreatlBritain 1906

